About a week and a half ago I began working on my sermon for this Sunday using the texts assigned for the fifth Sunday after Epiphany. I was then informed by my fellow clergy, that those were the wrong texts, and we were going to celebrate Candlemas on this Sunday. Being a graduate of one notably evangelical and low- church seminary in the Anglican tradition, a somewhat lesser school in the eyes of my brother clergy from Nashotah House, I asked: What is Candlemas? My question was met with stare of utter incredulity. My learned brothers began to patiently inform me about this feast day and bring light into my liturgical darkness.
Candlemas is appointed to be celebrated on 2 February, but is moved to be celebrated on the nearest Sunday in many places. This feast is understood to be a part of the Christmas season, bringing to completion the events proclaiming the incarnation of the Messiah; Jesus, the word made flesh.
Also known as the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the presentation of Christ in the temple, it is celebrated in the Roman and Orthodox churches and in much of the Anglican tradition.
Candles are used in worship in this celebration, in that it was on this occasion that Jesus is acclaimed, in Simeon’s prophecy as being “the light to the Gentiles.”
And that wondrous source of wisdom in all things British, Fr. Charleston, shared with me about one English tradition that states: “you must then leave Christmas decorations up until Candlemas Day, February 2…. if, after that date, so much as a berry or leaf is left, “the goblins can get through the keyhole and spill the milk, crack the china and let the rats and mice into the larder.”
So if your Christmas decorations are still up, no one can judge you! You are just following one of the Anglican traditions. But, this is Candlemas so best get them down today!
Let us take a look at what is celebrated today. It is first noted as the purification of Mary.
According to the Mosaic Law, a mother was considered unclean for the 40 days after birth. Following the 40 days the mother was to bring a sacrificial offering to the temple, either a lamb, or for those unable to afford a lamb, a pigeon or turtledove. Then the priest prayed for her and so she was ritually cleansed.
Mary complies with this precept of the law. They come to Jerusalem, to the temple, and in their poverty offer the pair of pigeons.
In light of all that has been revealed to them by angels, and in the experiences with the Angel Gabriel, shepherds, and Wise men from the East, divine proclamations of the uniqueness of this child Jesus, and their role in God plan of salvation, she and Joseph are obedient to the law as faithful Jews.
And in their obedience there is posed a great irony of history which is the second understanding of this feast; the presentation of Jesus in the temple.
Someone recently posited to me a summary of what the presentation is all about: a temple presenting the temple in the temple.
Mary the temple, within whom God made man was conceived and nurtured, gave birth to Jesus, the true temple himself in which true divinity perfectly resides as perfect man, and brings him to Mount Zion; the site of God dwelling in the midst of his people Israel.
In the midst of this ironic confluence of meaning, in the context of faithful obedience, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus come into the presence of two other faithful Jews, two remarkably faithful people; Simeon and Anna.
Simeon, a “just and devout” man of Jerusalem, greeted the Holy family in the temple. A pious Jew, he was waiting for the “consolation of Israel.” He was waiting for the Messiah, the fulfillment of God promise to Israel. And, though advanced in years, he had received a word from the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the expected Messiah. This promise was fulfilled when through guidance of the Spirit he came to the temple on this particular day.
Seeing the child Jesus, he knows by the insight given by the Holy Spirit that this is the one, and he takes him in his arms, and praises God, in words later enshrined in the canticle: Nunc Dimittis.
He proclaims that this Jesus is God recognizable salvation for the world, a light to reveal God and his purpose to the Gentile world, and the one who will fulfill and bring to pass all that had been prophesied and promised to Israel. With the angels, the shepherds, the wise men, Simeon proclaims this Jesus as the Messiah, son of God. And with that he says his life is complete.
He then blesses the holy family, prophesying that this child will bring truth into the light, thus bringing controversy and judgement to many. This child he says; “is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel,” and he warns Mary of her suffering in this work ahead: as a sword shall pierce your soul, also.
And there in the temple also comes Anna, described as a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser.
She had lived probably some 50-70 years after the death of her husband, devoting those years to fasting and prayer in the temple.
Coming upon the Holy family she also, by the power of the Holy Spirit recognizes Jesus as the one she was waiting for. And though we do not know exactly what she said, she praised God for this child, pointing to him as the answer for all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem, for all looking for the Messiah, the Christ.
Simeon and Anna are people completely devoted to God, literally living their lives to and for God, and thus God is able to use them; they being open to the Holy Spirit to accomplish their amazing ministry.
Joseph and Mary, just in being faithful to live out their faith, following the law, are brought into the presence of other faithful people who confirm to them again the miracle of who this child is, and reaffirm to them the amazing part that they have in the working out of God’s plan of salvation. In seeking after God they are brought to a confluence of faith, where we see Gods sovereign purposes being worked out in Gods way, in God’s time.
What if Joseph and Mary, given all that had occurred to them of miraculous nature and Godly origin, decided they were now above the simple requirements of simple faith and stayed home? What if Simeon or Anna had slept in that day? This great event would have been missed. It seems that God’s sovereign purposes in his work to bring salvation to the world, is primarily worked out through simple people, through simple faithfulness, in simple obedience to God’s leading through the Holy Spirit.
So what might be learned from this feast of the presentation or Candlemas? Well first, I learned that priests don’t necessarily know everything! We are always growing in our knowledge of the Christian faith. Second, and more significantly, Candlemas brings to conclusion the incarnational chapter of Christ coming into the world. It is the final scene of the first act of the great drama that will bring us to Holy week and ultimately to Easter. As such, it continues to reinforce significance of Christ’s birth and the uniqueness of his personhood as Messiah the Christ.
We cannot miss that Jesus is at the heart of God’s work in history and is of primary significance to every life, especially to those who call themselves disciples. We need to shape our lives around this, for to miss this point is to completely miss God and miss the purpose of our life. Jesus is, and must be, the center of our lives.
Third, it speaks to the sovereignty of God, who, working through faithful people and their simple obedience to his leading; working in his timing, accomplishes his great work of making Christ known in the world.
Being a good Christian is not necessarily about doing great things. It is not about being the world’s greatest preacher
or being the world’s richest businessman, or being the world’s smartest student, or the greatest mom or dad.
It is about simple obedience to the Jesus. Being where he wants you to be, when he wants you to be there, doing what he asks you to do. It is being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, letting Jesus be Lord.
If we do this we can be sure we are a part of his great plan. And whether we see it or not, we can know that he will use us for his purpose to make himself known in the world.
Like taking these candles out into the world, they are a testimony of what we celebrated here. Jesus wants to take us out into the world to be his testimony, his witnesses. As he is our light, may we become his light in the world.
Sermon preached by the Rev. Richard C Marsden
The Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota Florida
5th Sunday after the Epiphany 5 February, 2017